Collapsible clothes dryers



' 3, 1957 H. H. HAGAR COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYERS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12. 1950 I Inventor: Mnryw fOwardHa yar Aug. 13, 1957 H. H. HAGAR COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYERS Filed June l2, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 LICTQ.

Aug. 13, 1957 H. H. HAGAR 2,802,579

COLLAPSIBLE. CLOTHES DRYERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 12, 1950 [*wenior ##Qmy Howard ffzyar 6 0%,;

4, v hWM United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYERS Henry Howard Hagar, Ambler, Pa. Application June 12, 1950, Serial No. 167,536

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-178) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clothes dryers of the collapsible type wherein the clothes lines extend horizontally in generally parallel relation between relatively spaced apart supporting members when the dryer is set-up for use.

Heretofore, in clothes dryers of the collapsible type in which the clothes lines extend in generally parallel relation between spaced supporting members, the practice has been to construct each of the clothes line supporting members of a plurality of sections which are pivotally connected together and arranged so that when the dryer is set up for usethe sections of each support member are disposed in axial alignment and when collapsed the sections are folded parallel to one another. This sectional construction of the line supporting members has certain disadvantages in that the structure is generally weaker and less rigid than is desirable in a device of this character and, furthermore, the use of pivotally connected sectional support members adds to the manufacturing cost of the device.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible clothes line or dryer construction of the type having a plurality of .clothes lines extending in generally parallel relation between a pair of spaced supporting members wherein each of the supporting members comprises a rigid, unitary or one-piececonstruction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible clothes dryer as set forth which is of relatively simplified construction providing a dryer which is characterized by its comparatively greater strength and rigidity when setup for use. i

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel clothes dryer construction as set forth which is relatively easy to set-up and collapse and which, when collapsed, occupies a minimum of space. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible clothes dryer construction having the features and characteristics set forth which is comparatively less expensive to manufacture and which is highly efficient and effective in operation and use.

, These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a collapsible clothes dryer made according to the present invention showing the same fully extended and set up for use;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the clothes dryer of the present invention showing the relative position of the parts thereof in partially collapsed position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the clothes dryer in fully collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line .4-4, Fig. 3', r

.5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in plan on line 55, Fig. 1;-

Patented. Aug. 13, .1957

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Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66, Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7-7, Fig. 1;

Fig, 8 is an end elevational view of the disclosure in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the disclosure in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the connection of the outer end of one of the arms to the clothes line supporting member; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 11--11, Fig. 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a collapsible clothes dryer made according to the present invention comprises generally a central vertical post 1, a pair of clothes line support members 2 and 3, respectively, and a structure for supporting the members 2 and 3 relative to each other and the vertical post 1.

In accordance with the present invention the clothes line support members 2 and 3, respectively, each comprises a rigid, elongated unitary or one-piece element of the desired length having a cross-sectional configuration which may be, for example, of channel shape as shown in the drawings. When the clothes dryer is set up for use these support members 2 and 3 are disposed horizontally in relatively spaced parallel relation at opposite sides of the vertical post 1 and a plurality of clothes lines 5 extend relatively taut between the members 2 and 3 in spaced parallel relation as shown in Fig. l of, the drawings.

The members 2 and 3 are supported relative to each other and to the vertical post 1 by means of a structure which comprises two pairs of arms 6, 7 and 8, 9 and associated pairs of links 20, 21 and 22, 23, respectively. As best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, when the device is set up the pairs of arms 6, 7, and 8, 9 extend diagonally with respect to each other crosswise of the parallel clothes lines 5 and the outer ends of the pairs of arms 6, 7 and 8, 9 are pivotally connected respectively to opposite ends of the support members 2 and 3. 1

In accordance with the present invention, the pivotal connection of the outer ends of the arms 6 and 7 to oppositely disposed ends of the support members 2 and 3, respectively, is constructed to provide a substantially universal connection between the ends of the arms 6 and 7 and the members 2 and 3. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings show a construction which provides a good universal connection between the arms 6 and 7 and the members 2 and 3, respectively. In this construction an eye-bolt 10 is mounted in the end of the member 2 to rotate about an axis coaxially thereof and a similar eyebolt 11 is mounted adjacent the end of the arm 6 to rotate about an axis crosswise of the member 6. The two bolts 10 and 11 have their eye portions interconnected as shown.

The inner ends of the pair of arms 6 and 7 are pivotally connected by means of pins 12 to a collar 13. The collar 13 in turn is fixedly secured, for example, by means of a pin 14 to the upper end of the vertical post 1, and the arms 6 and 7 are arranged at opposite sides thereof, for example, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The pair of arms 8 and 9 have their outer ends pivotally connected respectively to the other ends of the clothes line support members 2 and 3. A typical construction and arrangement of this pivotal connection is shown in detail in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings and comprises simply a pin 15 which extends entirely through the arm 9 and support member 3 in the relation shown, no universal connection being necessary at this point.

In contrast to the connection of the inner ends of the post 1, the pair of arms 8 and 9 have their inner ends pivotally connected by means of pins 16 to opposite sides of a collar 17, for example, in the relation shown in Fig. 6

of the drawings. The collar 17 is mounted to slide freely on-the vertical post 1 .and is adapted, when the dryer is set up for use, to be secured in a raised position upon the post 1 by means of a spring-mounted catch or the like 18 (see Figs. 1 and 2). a

Pairs of links 20, 21 and 22, 23, respectively, support the pairs of arms 6, 7 and 8, 9. In the case of the links 20 and 21 these have their outer ends pivotally connected respectively tothe arms. 6 and 7 intermediate the ends of the latter, for example, by means of pins 24 as shown in Fig. 1, and the inner ends of said links 26 and 21 are pivotally connected by suitable pins 25 to opposite sides of the vertically slidable collar 17 on the post 1, for example, in the relation shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The other pair of links 22, 23 likewise have their outer ends pivotally connected respectively to the arms 8 and 9 intermediate the ends of the latter, for example, by means of suitable pins 26. 'However, in contrast to the connection of the inner ends of the links 20, 21 to the slidable collar 17, the inner ends of the links 22, 23 are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the fixed collar 13 by means of suitable pins 27, for example, in the rela tion shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Further with respect to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it is pointed out that the pivot axis of the arms 6 and 7 is disposed at an acute angle to the pivot axis of the links 22 and 23 and not at right angles thereto, and this is true also in the case. of the disposition of the pivot axis of the arms 8 and 9 with respect to the pivot axis of links 20 and 21, as shown in Fig. 6. By this construction adequate clearance for movement of the ends of the several arms and links relative to one another is provided.

By this construction and arrangement of the arms and links it will be observed that the arms 6 and 7 are connected to the fixed collar 13 at the top of the post lalong with the links 22 and 23 which support the other pair of arms 8 and 9 and that the latter arms have their inner ends connected to the vertically slidable collar 17 on the post 1 along with the inner ends of the links 20 and 21 which support the arms 6 and 7.

With reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, in the collapsed position of the clothes dryer with the slidable collar 17 in'its lowered position upon the vertical post 1, the clothesline members 2 and 3 as well as the pairs of supporting arms 6, 7 and 8, 9 and the pairs of links 20, 21 and 22, 23 are all substantially vertically disposed and in positions generally parallel to the post 1 of the dryer. The dryer is extended or set up for use simply by exertg an upward or lifting force upon the slidable collar 17 to raise the latter from its lowered position on the post 1 to a position above the spring catch 18 which engages under the collar to secure it in raised position with the several parts of the structure disposed ready for use in the relative positions shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

As the slidable collar 17 is raised upon the vertical post '1 the pairs of arms 6 and '7 operate through their links 20 and 21 to swing the lower ends of the members 2 and 3 in generally opposite directions upwardly and outwardly while the other pair of arms 8 and 9 and their links 22 and 23 operate simultaneously to cause the upper ends of the members 2 and 3 to be moved in generally opposite directions outwardly and downwardly to the same degree. As the result of this movement of the members 2 and 3 when the dryer is fully extended or set up for use with the slidable collar 17 secured in raised position by the spring catch 18, the members 2 and 3 are disposed in the horizontal position relatively spaced apart at opposite sides of the vertical post 1 with-the several lengths of clothes line 5 extending between the members 2 and 3 in uniformly spaced parallel relation, for example,.a s shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,

When it is desired to collapse the structure tothe position shown in Fig. 3, it "is necessary simply to press the catch 18 thereby releasing the collar 17 so that it is free to slide downwardly upon the post 1. As the collar 17 slides down the post 1 the pairs of arms and their associated links operate to swing the support members 2 and 3 from their horizontal set up position inwardly to a lower position closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the vertical post 1, for example, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a collapsible clothes dryer of novel construction and operation wherein the clothes line supporting members each comprise a rigid, unitary or one-piece construction which is characterized by its comparatively greater strength .and rigidity particularly when set up for use. The invention also provides a collapsible clothes dryer of the type set forth which is comparatively less expensive to manufacture and which is highly efficient ,and effective in operation and use.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure and changes and modification may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible clothes dryer, a central post adapted to be mounted in a vertical position, a pair of elongated rigid unitary clothes line supporting members adapted in the set-up position of the dryer to be horizontally disposed in spa ed apart relation at opposite sides of the central post and in the collapsed position of the dryer to be vertically disposed closely adjacent and parallel to said post; a structure for moving said members between and Supporting them in said set-up and collapsed positions of the dryer comprising a first pair of arms having their outer ends substantially universally connected respectively to oppositely related end portions of the clothes line supporting members and their inner ends pivotally connected to a relatively fixed point adjacent the upper end of the post, a second pair of armshaving their outer ends pivotally connected respectively to the other end portions of said members and their inner ends pivotally mounted and arranged for sliding movement vertically of the post, and supportinglinks 'for said arms each having its outer end pivotally connected to one of said arms, the links connected to the arms of said first pair thereof having their inner ends pivotally mounted for sliding movement vertially of the post with theinner endsof said second pair of arms and the links connected to said second pair of arms having their inner ends pivotally connected to a relatively fixed point adjacent the upper end of the post. 2. .In a collapsible clothes dryer, a central post adapted to be mounted in a vertical position, a pair of elongated rigid unitary clothesline supporting members adapted in the set-up position of the dryer to be horizontally disposed in spaced apart relation at opposite sides of the central post and in the collapsed position of the dryer to be dis posed closely adjacent and parallel to said post, acollar slidably mounted on the central post, a structure for moving said clothesline-supporting members between and supporting them in-said set-up and collapsed positions of the dryer comprising a first pair of arms having their outer ends pivotally connected respectively to oppositely related end portions of the clothesline supporting members and their inner ends pivotally connected to a relatively fixed position adjacent the upper endof the central post, a

second pair of arms having their .outer ends pivotally connectedrespectively to the otherend portions of the clothesline supporting members and their inner ends pivotally connected respectively to said slidable collar on the central .post, the pivotal connections between the outer ends of at least one of said pairs of arms and the clothes line supporting members being substantially universal connections, a first pair of links having their outer ends pivotally connected respectively to said first pair of arms and their inner ends pivotally connected to said slidable collar on the central post, and a second pair of links having their outer ends pivotally connected respectively to said second pair of arms and their inner ends pivotally connected to said relatively fixed position adjacent the upper end of said central post, the arrangement of said first pair of arms and said first pair of links operating upon movement of the slidable collar in a downward direction on the central post to impart an upward and inward swinging movement to said oppositely related end portions of the clothesline members and the arrangement of the second pair of arms and second pair of supporting links operating upon downward sliding movement of said collar on the central post to impart simultaneously" to the other 6 end portions of the clothesline members a downward and inward swinging movement, whereby the said clothesline members are caused to rotate endwise in respectively opposite directions as they move from and to said set-up positionat opposite sides of the central post and said collapsed position closely adjacent and parallel thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

